Schroon Lake  A major event planned for Schroon Lake this winter has been cancelled.

Dog sled races scheduled for Feb. 9 and 10 will not be held.

“We apologize for the short notice, but unfortunately the Schroon Lake Sled Dog Challenge scheduled for Feb. 9 and 10 has been cancelled due to a lack of funding,” according to a press release sent by the Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce. “We are working to reschedule this event for February 2014.”

The dog sled event was to feature dozens of races at the town golf course. It was to be staged by the Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club, one of the oldest sled dog clubs in the country.

The Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club has held races in Massena for several years. Last summer club officials reached out to Schroon Lake and in September visited the community to inspect possible courses. They visited again in December.

The Schroon Lake Sled Dog Challenge was expected to attract about 50 mushers along with support crews, fans and families.

“Yes, the races have been cancelled due to some contract-insurance-money issues,” said John Hutson of the chamber. “We are hoping to move forward in 2014 with the races as the issues will be resolved soon.”

The Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club was founded in 1971 “to conduct sled dog races, and to promote the safe and humane racing, driving and training of sled dogs.”

The club has more than 150 members from Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Delaware, Virginia, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland, New Jersey and Alaska. Classes at club races range from the International Sled Dog Racing Association’s Sanctioned classes right down to the Pee Wee classes. Sportsman classes for beginning and recreational mushers are also popular.

The Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club is a member club and a supporter of the International Sled Dog Racing Association. Club events are run under ISDRA rules.

Recreational teams, rig races, weight pullers, officials, juniors, and professional sprint racers are all part of the Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club.